Excerpt from the paper (page 6)

AI tools may appeal to these individuals because they offer a form of cognitive leverage, enhancing their ability to produce sophisticated output, craft persuasive communications, or solve complex problems more efficiently than others. Indeed, prior work has observed high Machiavellian individuals strategically manage information disclosure in social relationships, where Machiavellian individuals do not reduce the amount of information they share to others, but instead they control its honesty and accuracy. It is possible that high Machiavellian individuals feel less inhibited about using AI because they are more comfortable with manipulation (e.g., having a tool to communicate for them, adjusting their words) and instrumental approaches to achieving their goals.

Similarly, the association between narcissism and AI use in the student sample may reflect these individuals’ motivation to maintain self-images of competence and distinctiveness. Narcissistic individuals may be drawn to cutting-edge technologies that signal their innovativeness or technical sophistication, viewing AI adoption as a way to demonstrate their superiority in academic, professional, and social contexts. AI tools may serve as a means of cognitive enhancement that supports their grandiose self-concept, allowing them to produce work or engage in activities that reinforce their perceived exceptionalism.